Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine
Encyclopedia
Isabella was suo jure
Duchess of Lorraine, from 25 January 1431 to her death in 1453. She was the first wife of Duke Rene of Anjou, King of Naples, and the mother of his children, which included Margaret of Anjou
, Queen consort of England as the wife of Henry VI
.
From 1435 to 1442, Isabella was Queen consort of Naples; and from 1442 until her death, she was the titular queen consort. During her husband's absences, she acted as regent
for his domains.
and Margaret of the Palatinate
. Her paternal grandparents were John I, Duke of Lorraine
and Sophie of Wurttemberg. Her maternal grandparents were Rupert of Germany
and Elisabeth of Nuremberg
, daughter of Burgrave Frederick V of Nuremberg and Elisabeth of Meissen
.
Isabella inherited the duchy from her father upon his death, and ruled jointly with her husband, Duke René of Anjou
, also Duke of Bar and King of Naples, whom she had married in 1419. During his absence, she acted as regent for his domains. She led an army to rescue her husband from Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
, who held René in captivity from 1434 until 1436. The mid-16th century Chronicle of Gaspare Fuscolillo records that Isabella arrived in Naples on 15 October 1435.
René and Isabella had the following children:
Isabella died on 28 February 1453 at the age of about 53 years. Her son John succeeded her as Duke of Lorraine. She was buried in Angers Cathedral.
René married secondly, on 10 September 1454, Jeanne de Laval
, but this marriage was childless.
See also: Dukes of Lorraine family tree
Suo jure
Suo jure is a Latin phrase meaning "in her [or his] own right".It is commonly encountered in the context of titles of nobility, especially in cases where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage....
Duchess of Lorraine, from 25 January 1431 to her death in 1453. She was the first wife of Duke Rene of Anjou, King of Naples, and the mother of his children, which included Margaret of Anjou
Margaret of Anjou
Margaret of Anjou was the wife of King Henry VI of England. As such, she was Queen consort of England from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471; and Queen consort of France from 1445 to 1453...
, Queen consort of England as the wife of Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
.
From 1435 to 1442, Isabella was Queen consort of Naples; and from 1442 until her death, she was the titular queen consort. During her husband's absences, she acted as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for his domains.
Marriage and issue
She was the eldest daughter of Charles II, Duke of LorraineCharles II, Duke of Lorraine
Charles II , called the Bold was the duke of Lorraine from 1390 to his death and constable of France from 1418 to 1425....
and Margaret of the Palatinate
Margaret of the Palatinate
Margaret of the Palatinate was the daughter of Rupert of Germany and his wife Elisabeth of Nuremberg. She married Charles II, Duke of Lorraine on 6 February 1393. Her maternal grandparents were Frederick V, Burgrave of Nuremberg and Elisabeth of Meissen...
. Her paternal grandparents were John I, Duke of Lorraine
John I, Duke of Lorraine
John I was the duke of Lorraine from 1346 to his death. As an infant of six months, he succeeded his father, Rudolph, who was killed in the Battle of Crécy. His mother was Mary, daughter of Guy I of Blois....
and Sophie of Wurttemberg. Her maternal grandparents were Rupert of Germany
Rupert of Germany
Rupert of Germany from the House of Wittelsbach was Elector Palatine from 1398 and German King from 1400 until his death...
and Elisabeth of Nuremberg
Elisabeth of Nuremberg
-Source:*...
, daughter of Burgrave Frederick V of Nuremberg and Elisabeth of Meissen
Elisabeth of Meissen
Elisabeth of Meissen, Burgravine of Nuremberg was the daughter of Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen and Mathilde of Bavaria and a member of the House of Wettin.-Marriage and children:...
.
Isabella inherited the duchy from her father upon his death, and ruled jointly with her husband, Duke René of Anjou
René I of Naples
René of Anjou , also known as René I of Naples and Good King René , was Duke of Anjou, Count of Provence , Count of Piedmont, Duke of Bar , Duke of Lorraine , King of Naples , titular King of Jerusalem...
, also Duke of Bar and King of Naples, whom she had married in 1419. During his absence, she acted as regent for his domains. She led an army to rescue her husband from Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
Philip the Good KG , also Philip III, Duke of Burgundy was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty . During his reign Burgundy reached the height of its prosperity and prestige and became a leading center of the arts...
, who held René in captivity from 1434 until 1436. The mid-16th century Chronicle of Gaspare Fuscolillo records that Isabella arrived in Naples on 15 October 1435.
René and Isabella had the following children:
- John II of AnjouJohn II, Duke of LorraineJohn II of Anjou was Duke of Lorraine from 1453 to his death. He inherited the duchy from his mother, Duchess Isabelle, during the life of his father, Duke René of Anjou, also Duke of Lorraine and titular king of Naples...
and King of Naples (1425 – 16 December 1470), married Marie de Bourbon, daughter of Charles I, Duke of BourbonCharles I, Duke of BourbonCharles de Bourbon was the oldest son of John I, Duke of Bourbon and Marie, Duchess of Auvergne.He was Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis from 1424, and Duke of Bourbon and Auvergne from 1434 to his death, although due to the imprisonment of his father after the Battle of Agincourt, he acquired...
, by whom he had issue. He also had several illegitimate children. - Yolande of AnjouYolande de BarYolande de Bar was Duchess of Lorraine and Bar . She was the daughter of Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine, and René of Anjou . Because of her various titles she is also known as Yolande de Lorraine and Yolande d'Anjou...
(2 November 1428 – 23 March 1483), married Frederick of Lorraine, count of Vaudemont; mother of duke René II of LorraineRené II, Duke of LorraineRené II was Count of Vaudémont from 1470, Duke of Lorraine from 1473, and Duke of Bar from 1483 to 1508. He claimed the crown of the Kingdom of Naples and the County of Provence as the Duke of Calabria 1480–1493 and as King of Naples and Jerusalem 1493–1508...
, by whom she had issue. - Margaret of AnjouMargaret of AnjouMargaret of Anjou was the wife of King Henry VI of England. As such, she was Queen consort of England from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471; and Queen consort of France from 1445 to 1453...
(23 March 1430 – 25 August 1482), married King Henry VI of EnglandHenry VI of EnglandHenry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
, by whom she had a son, Edward of Lancaster. - plus seven others who died in childhood
Isabella died on 28 February 1453 at the age of about 53 years. Her son John succeeded her as Duke of Lorraine. She was buried in Angers Cathedral.
René married secondly, on 10 September 1454, Jeanne de Laval
Jeanne de Laval
-Sources:*Accounts of John Legay, fundraiser for the Queen of Sicily, the manuscript of the library of Angers, published in the History Anjou in 1900.*King Lecoy by René de la Marche.*Conduct of King René J. Levron....
, but this marriage was childless.
See also: Dukes of Lorraine family tree
Dukes of Lorraine family tree
This is a family tree of the House of Lorraine. It ranges from the foundation of the Longwy dynasty, in 1047, to the abdication of Francis III of Lorraine in 1737.See also: Lorraine...